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PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
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Before beginning my rather somber story, I have some happy news. My WIP entitled “What the Heart Wants” is under contract with agent Diane Nine of Nine Speakers, Inc. To read more about it click here.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
PROJECT PINK
Dedrick intertwined his fingers with Levin’s long slender ones and stared at the ragged nails worn down by hauling stones from the quarry. Dedrick remembered winter nights when those elegant hands, never meant for such cruel labor, prepared succulent meals that would delight a king.
Levin’s hoarse voice brought him back to Auschwitz. “Dedrick, I—”
Dedrick pressed his finger against Levin’s chapped lips. “Save your strength.”
Bruises marred Levin’s flawless complexion. One long-lashed eye had swollen shut. He reached out and touched the pink triangle on Dedrick’s striped uniform. “You must know…”
Kissing Levin’s palm, Dedrick whispered, “I do.”
For more on this lesser known atrocity CLICK HERE
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Beautifully written, Rochelle. Yes there were other groups in the camps too. There were also Roma, Poles, Soviet POWs and others
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And the disabled, “traitors”, LGBT, Gypsies and…
The human face seems forgotten in any conflict. The horrid and shameful side of human nature.
Touching story, Rochelle.
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Dear Tanille,
You beat me to those. No matter what a person’s views are re lifestyle and orientation, these were human beings. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wish we all believed that, world would be a better place!
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Dear Neil,
Anyone who didn’t fit the Aryan mold. Not to mention anyone who dared to opposed the Third Reicht. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for yet another reminder, although it’s terrible that we still need it. 😦 👿
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Dear Archon,
I don’t expect to win a popularity prize this week. But…crimes against humanity are still crimes. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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To be different is always the first crime to those who lack understanding.
Sensitive handling of a ghastly topic, m’lady.
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Dear C.E.
This one could make me unpopular with some. it is a ghastly topic and horrific history. Thank you for your much appreciated comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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An horrific time in history.
Congratulations on your happy news Rochelle.
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Dear Colline,
It was a horrific time. So little regard for human life. And thank you for the congrats. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I agree. It breaks my heart every time I read about it. It is a good thing that writers are creating stories to keep that reminder in our psyche.
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Baruchim to you for refusing to let the voices of the hated among the hated be silenced.
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Querida Etana,
Sometimes a person has to take the unpopular path. Thank you for reading and commenting, my friend.
Shalom y paz,
Rukhelita
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Firstly, congratulations on finding an agent for your book, fantastic news! This week’s prompt will inspire a few dark stories I think, none more so than this. A shocking time. Unfortunately, this community still suffers from appalling discrimination to this day. At some point you do hope lessons might be learned…
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Dear Iain,
Of course, being Jewish, I’ve grown up under the shadow of the Holocaust. Yet there are so many stories I didn’t know. The evil is limitless it seems. At any rate thank you for your affirming comments and the congrats on my agent. 😀 (a light in this week’s darkness).
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How cruel were the categorizations! How inhuman was it to promote one person’s belief and ride roughshod over others. The demonic megalomania of one man and the repurcussion sof his bestiality.
A very sensitive subject covered in a very sensible and yes, sensitive manner.
And very happy to know that your WIP may shortly see the day of light, having caught the attention of powers that be.
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Dear Neel,
I’m amazed and appalled at the things I didn’t know. Thank you for your affirming comments and sharing my joy of the new agent. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wrenching. I recall reading about a group of Talmudic scholars hauled onto the streets of Vienna and forced to spend the day shoveling manure dropped by Nazi horses. Worse was in store.
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Dear Josh,
There are so many relatively unknown stories and fewer and fewer survivors left to tell them.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A great write and sensitively handled. Great contrast between the deep love between the men and the uncaring hate that put them there.
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Thank you for your affirming comments, Trent. This was not an easy one to post.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Every now and again you write a piece that moves me. This did. The gentle way you’ve described the scene just adds to its poignancy. Thank you, Rochelle
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Dear Keith,
I appreciate your affirming comment. Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, I just read an amazing true story called “The Volunteer” about a man who volunteered to be arrested and sent to Auschwitz in order to try to organize a resistance, and get the truth out to news media around the world. Having just spent quite a bit of time there, I couldn’t bring myself to follow your link to read more about this particular horror story. Maybe another time.
Jews were certainly not the only victims. Anyone was a potential enemy. Polish people were sent to the camps because they were Polish. Pastors were sent there because they preached the Bible, which was antithetical to Hitler’s program. Gentiles were sent there because they tried to hide and protect Jews. You didn’t have to cross the line very far at all.
This picture gave me the willies, so I took it in a little different direction 🙂
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Dear Linda,
There are so many stories and, I’m sure, more heroes than we know of. Sadly the survivors are dying off as the years progress and memories dim. Of course Corrie and the rest of the Ten Boom family come to mind. So many “watches” they saved and suffered the same fate as those they worked to hide. And we do well to remember that whether or not we agree with a person’s way of living, they are still human beings.
To misquote a line from MASH, we’ve treated a symptom, but the disease marches merrily on.
Thank you for your affirming comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The hate and inhumanity against humanity is a crime anyway you look at it. The world needs so much more tolerance of all differences and the need to live peacefully beside one another. Unfortunately, Mankind has proved throughout history to be a violent species. It may someday prove to be our elimination on this planet. Well done story on a sensitive subject. But, violence is violence, no matter what the subject or reason is.
NOW! P.S., so very excited on the next chapter, or novel as it were. A new agent, a new opportunity. YEA!
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Dear Jan,
it doesn’t matter if we agree with someone or not, does it? Human life should be valued. Sadly this wasn’t the case then nor is it in many places now. Thank you for understanding and commenting, m’luv.
And YES! hard not to be excited. 😀
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I decided I need to alter my routine. Instead of playing games on my phone while I try to wake up, I’m going to open my laptop and jump right into Friday Fictioneers. The first thing I see is your good news. Yay! Then, I read your touching story. It was disturbingly beautiful. Then, I read the article. Holy shit! I almost stopped a couple of times. That was hard to read. It’s made my stomach turn and my whole body tense. I can’t imagine what it was like to live it.
Homosexuals are one group I never considered being affected by the Holocaust. Or Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were also mentioned in the article. I can’t imagine how human beings could be so evil.
If I wasn’t awake before, I am now. I’m definitely not going back to sleep with those images in my head. It’s a good thing I have puppy snuggles first thing in the morning. Waking up in my bed with my phone and computer and puppy curled up on me, I really can’t imagine the hardships those people endured.
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Dear Naubbin,
I’d never considered homosexuals as being one of the groups herded into the camps either. So when I came across the pink triangle I knew I had to write about it. If you didn’t fit the Aryan model, you were sub-human. WTH, Hitler himself didn’t fit the mold. He was simply insane as were his followers. The chilling thing is that so many did follow him.
I envy you your puppy snuggles. 😉 Thank you for all the lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A piece of history that needs more telling. Thanks for another great story, and congratulations on your most excellent news!
Shalom,
Ronda
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Dear Ronda,
Just when I think I know all there is to know on the subject I find that I haven’t even scratched the surface. None of us have. But it does need to be told and retold. Thank you for commenting and for sharing in my most excellent news. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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First- CONGRATULATIONS! 🙂 ❤ Second – What a gripping and sad story. It does things proper to remind us that it wasn't just Jews who were singled out for torture and death at the hands of the Nazis. People with special needs, gypsies, gays/lesbians, etc were also incarcerated and tortured to death. So very sad!
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Dear Bear, ,
It is so very sad. The infuriating thing is that Hitler himself didn’t look particularly Aryan. Such evil. Thank you for the first and second. 😀 ❤ And for your part in What the Heart Wants.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is another example among the terrible genocides… so many atrocities and still going on. Anything different was to be annihilated.
And everyone had their own symbol…
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Dear Bjorn,
The Nazis thought of everything, didn’t they? Yellow stars and pink triangles to name two. Not exactly Lucky Charms. 😉 Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I just read about brown triangles for Romani
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Shaking my head. No doubt there’s more. Black triangles for lesbians
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Oh gosh, that was almost unbearably poignant.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
p.s. congrats with the book!
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Thank you twice, Susan. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
You have perfectly combined true love with true hate in a seamless manner. Of course we should not be surprised that the gay community was also targeted. They sure did not fit the image of the Aryan way…
Always so well done, my friend. And of course, kudos on the new agent! Woot!
Shalom and may love always win,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
I’m not so surprised they were targeted so much as my own not realizing it. Of course anyone who dared cross the Fuhrer was in danger. Thank you for your kind words all around. Woot! Indeed!
Shalom and lotsa tolerance and love,
Rochelle
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One more group that was attacked…
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That is truly horrific Rochelle, you’ve once again taught me a valuable lesson in awful information. You are the Woman!
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Dear Shrawley,
I can’t fathom the cruelty. Thank you so much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congratulations on the book representation!
And … for this terrible, truthful, abominable piece of history – and not for the love that people felt for each other, but for the hate that led to their suffering and extermination.
I’ve left my contribution in the linky-froggy. I think the ‘mood’ of the photo was contagious, if not in the same way.
Na’ama
https://naamayehuda.com/2019/11/20/warehoused/
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Na’ama Y’karah,
It does seem most people went dark with this photo. And I went to one of my recurring themes. Terrible piece of history. I wonder how much we’ve learned from it. Thank you for your affirming comments and the congrats. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think the times we are living in perhaps shape the viewfinder and perspective we use to interpret and associate … And … that perhaps some of us (and I have me a feeling you are one) are moved to try and right wrongs by writing about them, in our own ways, in what audience we have access to, as a form of voicing the unvoiced and putting words to what could not be spoken of, but must be.
Can’t wait to hear more about your upcoming new book!!! YEAH!
XO
Na’ama
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Yes, I think we are kindred souls in writing the wrongs. Or as one of my friends puts it is shining the light in the dark corners by writing them to people’s attention. I’ll take it.
Shabbat hugs,
Rochelle
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I’ll take it, too.
Shabbat hugs from a kindred soul,
Na’ama
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You told the story with great sensitivity, Rochelle, which left me in tears.
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Dear Lisa,
Your tears. My affirming compliment. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You are very welcome, Rochelle.
Shalom,
Lisa
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A tale of human suffering. There is no end to the extent a human can be cruel to another.
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No, Abhijit, sadly there isn’t. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Such a cruel and horrific time. And have times changed so much? The biggest change perhaps is that currently most countries no longer openly sanction discrimination (the biggest exception being homosexuality which is still a criminal offence in some countries).
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Dear Ali,
Cruelty comes in so many forms, doesn’t it? Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congrats on the happy news, Rochelle. 🙂
A tender story with a thorny backdrop. Beautifully done.
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Dear Varad,
Thank you for the congrats. We’re pretty excited about it. And thank you for your lovely comment on my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I thought I’d left a comment yesterday! Homosexuals, Downs people and gypsies, as well as Jews – all were deemed substandard by the subhuman Nazis. Dreadful.
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Dear Liz,
You did comment on Facebook which counts. BTW sorry for your friend’s loss of his husband. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Congratulations, Rochelle, on your book. That’s exciting to hear!
A sensitively written reminder of the horrors of that time. So much cruelty for simply being different. Your heartbreaking story brought tears to my eyes. We need to be reminded …
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Dear Brenda,
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. And thank you for the congrats on the book. So once more, the journey to finding a publisher begins. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I clicked on and read your journey up to this point for your project and found it very interesting! It’s encouraging to read the journey of others. It helps to know what to expect in working toward someday (possibly) becoming a published author. I’m sure you’ll find a publisher soon, Rochelle! =)
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The waiting is the hardest part. 😉 I do have high hopes for this book in the hands of Diane…she has some pretty high profile clients so I’m both jazzed and humbled to be part of her queue.
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Mazel Tov on your recent publication! Yay!
Your story is beautifully written. It is one I will be remembering. Thank God for love, as it can be found even in the filthiest, most terrifying and mind-numbing of situations.
Very well-crafted!
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Dear Susan,
Thank you on both counts. Actually the book’s not published yet, but I have high hopes with this new agent.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rochelle
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We must talk. How on earth did you find an agent? I self-publish. SIGH! However, collections of short stories might not be the best genre these days. In any case, I am happy for you!
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I think short story collections might be a bit harder. Here’s the unabridged version of how I “found” this agent. https://rochellewisoff.com/2019/11/18/just-like-starting-over/ It’s more like we found each other through ‘intervention.’ I did have to shop my first novel around before finding the right agent. I did get a short story anthology published through a small, now defunct, publishing company. It happened the owner who belonged to the same writers group liked my short stories included in a couple of her other anthologies offered to publish one that was all my own. It’s still available on Kindle and I have a few printed versions left. https://www.amazon.com/This-Sometimes-Other-Rochelle-Wisoff-Fields-ebook/dp/B00BN096QA/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2HNXFT5Y2VSPU&keywords=rochelle+wisoff-fields&qid=1574604878&sprefix=rochelle+wisoff%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-6
It is a journey that continues.
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Thank you, Rochelle! Much appreciated. Shalom!
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Heart rending Rochelle, you tell their story with such compassion.
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Thank you, Francine.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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after visiting the mauthausen concentration camp in austria, the
auschwitz and birkenau concentration camps in poland, and
hungarian gulag outside of recsk in hungary, i was appalled by the inhumanity of it all. never again.
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I haven’t actually been there, Plaridel. I can only imagine what that’s like…the ghosts that remain…thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Beautiful story Rochelle. Absolutely horrific the atrocities committed. I hope we never forget how quickly ugliness can take hold and devastate generations.
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Dear Shelley,
It’s true about generations. I know some children of survivors who bear the scars of their parents. Very sad. Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, dear one, Facebook has once again disabled my account…funny that is in that I used my real name, birthdate, picture and still they say I’m not who I say I am. Bunch of blunder butts and ignorami! Anyway, I can’t get back into my page. Just wanted to let you know. ~Shalom, Bear
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Dear Bear,
I’m so disappointed to hear about Facebook. I don’t understand. I hope there’s some way to get things straightened out. Meanwhile I’ll follow you in the blogosphere.
Shalom my friend,
Rochelle
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I knew you’d worry if you didn’t see me there online. As I said, many Native Americans are finding Fb to be antagonistic and prejudiced against us. It is sad.
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Querida Rochelle,
It’s heartbreaking whenever I read something new about those horrific times.
I felt the connection between them in every words. There will never be enough said to soothe the heartless cruelty those people did to other human beings.
Poignant and sad truth we must never forget. BRAVO …!!!
Abrazos y carino,
Isadora 😎
CONGRATULATIONS on your new venture coming to fruition. BRAVO !!!
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Querida Isadora,
It never ceases to amaze me how much is known about that time and, yet, how little. I didn’t know about the pink triangles until recently. At the same time, it only stands to reason since Hitler went after anybody and everybody who didn’t fit his Aryan vision. Let us never forget. Thank you for your kind words all the way around.
Shalom y carino,
Rochelle
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So many questions to think about with very little answers.
And, as time passes and many pass on the answers may never be known. Ironically, they went through all of this trouble of adding numbers to people they were going to annihilate.
Why? I shake each time I read something or see something about those atrocities.
Yes … let us never forget. 😢
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I always feel depress reading about these tales from past. How one could be so inhuman. But one should not forget history so it can’t be repeated. Beautifully written, dear.
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Thanks for the link. I didn’t know that-about pink…horrific. What right one has to treat other in so horrific way but perplexing thing is how they get so many followers to carry such command.
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Sorry I forgot,’ congratulations, dear.’
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Dear Indira,
It is a depressing read. I apologize for that. One of those things we hate to read about but know we must so we don’t forget. 😦 Thank you for your affirming comments. And thank you for the congrats, too. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Do you into depression writing them? I wonder. Previously I used to go in depression after reading such stories. Kudos to you to bring them out from the closet lest we forget and repeat that.
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Sometimes I do sink into depression and have to walk away from the computer. Still, I’m compelled to write these stories. Thank you.
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:). Intense writing.
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Dear Rochelle,
What devastating tale. Your descriptive, compelling writing brought Dedrick and Levin to life.
On a positive note, congrats on your WIP!
Shalom,
Mags
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Dear Mags,
Thanks so much for a lovely compliment for such a dark story. Thanks also for the congrats. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome.
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So horrible and tragic. How can love ever be treated with death. Beautifully written Rochelle as always. Gutwrenching.
On another note… congrats on the book contact! That is super exciting ! ❤
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Dear Laurie,
It was horrid and tragic. how humans can treat other humans like that is beyond me. Thank you for your kind comments and your congrats on the contract. Hoping it will lead to bigger and better things. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I read Ken Follett’s war novels (I hope I have the right author), and one of the gay characters in a concentration camp was subjected to the most inhumane torture, one of which included dogs. I was saddened and horrified that it was based on truth and history and not merely the author’s imagination.
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Dear Fatima,
The more I learn about the Holocaust the more my gorge rises. I’ve not read Ken Follett, but I’ve no doubt his story is based on fact. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Amazing — sweetness on top of horror. The human spirit is hard to crush.
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Thank you for a wonderful comment, Genia.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Actually, so lovely. Thank you.
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Your story shows an act of human kindness under the most extreme circumstances. I’m sure it contains much truth. Well written, Rochelle.
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